29 Mai 2012

Companies are removing oil from their products to cut costs

Rising crude prices are fueling a boom in bioplastics as manufacturers took for alternatives to petrochemicals in car seats, beverage containers, solar panels and other goods

With crude prices bouncing around above $90 a barrel, many companies are trying to wring the oil out of their operations.

Ford Motor Co.is using soybean foam in its upholstery.McDonald’s Corp.is testing paper cups for hot drinks in place of polystyrene containers, which start out as petroleum. Coca-Cola Co. andPepsiCo Inc. are becoming bioplastic bottlers. And a California cleaning products manufacturer has set out to eliminate diesel from its fleet.